pseudocopulation

The male bee, attracted to the orchid because of its resemblance to a female bee, attempts to mate with the flower. The bee's efforts cover its body with pollen, which is carried to the next flower it visits.

Attempted copulation by a male insect with a flower. It results in pollination of the flower and is common in the orchid family, where the flowers of many species resemble a particular species of female bee. When a male bee attempts to mate with a flower, the pollinia (groups of pollen grains) stick to its body. They are transferred to the stigma of another flower when the insect attempts copulation again.